Structural, density, entropy, and diffusivity anomalies of the TIP4P/2005 model of water are mapped out over a wide range of densities and temperatures. The locus of temperatures of maximum density (TMD) for this model is very close to the experimental TMD locus for temperatures between 250 and 275 K. Four different water models (mTIP3P, TIP4P, TIP5P, and SPC/E) are compared with the TIP4P/2005 model in terms of their anomalous behavior. For all the water models, the density regimes for anomalous behavior are bounded by a low-density limit at around 0.85-0.90 g cm(-3) and a high-density limit at about 1.10-1.15 g cm(-3). The onset temperatures of the density anomaly in the various models show a much greater variation, ranging from 202 K for mTIP3P to 289 K for TIP5P. The order maps for the various water models are qualitatively very similar with the structurally anomalous regions almost superimposable in the q(tet)-τ plane. Comparison of the phase diagrams of water models with the region of liquid-state anomalies shows that the crystalline phases are much more sensitive to the choice of water models than the liquid state anomalies; for example, SPC/E and TIP4P/2005 show qualitatively similar liquid state anomalies but very different phase diagrams. The anomalies in the liquid in all the models occur at much lower pressures than those at which the melting line changes from negative to positive slope. The results in this study demonstrate several aspects of structure-entropy-diffusivity relationships of water models that can be compared with experiment and used to develop better atomistic and coarse-grained models for water.

Anomalous behavior of the excess entropy (S(e)) and the associated scaling relationship with diffusivity are compared in liquids with very different underlying interactions but similar water-like anomalies: water (SPC/E and TIP3P models), tetrahedral ionic melts (SiO(2) and BeF(2)), and a fluid with core-softened, two-scale ramp (2SRP) interactions. We demonstrate the presence of an excess entropy anomaly in the two water models. Using length and energy scales appropriate for onset of anomalous behavior, we show the density range of the excess entropy anomaly to be much narrower in water than in ionic melts or the 2SRP fluid. While the reduced diffusivities (D*) conform to the excess-entropy-scaling relation, D* = A exp(alphaS(e)) for all the systems (Rosenfeld, Y. Phys. Rev. A 1977, 15, 2545), the exponential scaling parameter, alpha, shows a small isochore dependence in the case of water. Replacing S(e) by pair correlation-based approximants accentuates the isochore dependence of the diffusivity scaling. Isochores with similar diffusivity-scaling parameters are shown to have the temperature dependence of the corresponding entropic contribution. The relationship between diffusivity, excess entropy, and pair correlation approximants to the excess entropy are very similar in all the tetrahedral liquids.

These results identify a novel strategy for AC remediation via small molecule-mediated modulation of gp130 signalling.

Targeting of molecular pathways involved in the cell-to-cell propagation of pathological tau species is a novel approach for development of disease-modifying therapies that could block tau pathology and attenuate cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. We discovered cambinol through a screening effort and show that it is an inhibitor of cell-to-cell tau propagation. Our in vitro data demonstrate that cambinol inhibits neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) enzyme activity in dose response fashion, and suppresses extracellular vesicle (EV) production while reducing tau seed propagation. Our in vivo testing with cambinol shows that it can reduce the nSMase2 activity in the brain after oral administration. Our molecular docking and simulation analysis reveals that cambinol can target the DK-switch in the nSMase2 active site.

Phospholipid-based deformable nanovesicles (DNVs) that have flexibility in shape offer an adaptable and facile method to encapsulate diverse classes of therapeutics and facilitate localized transdermal delivery while minimizing systemic exposure. Here we report the use of a microfluidic reactor for the synthesis of DNVs and show that alteration of input parameters such as flow speeds as well as molar and flow rate ratios increases entrapment efficiency of drugs and allows fine-tuning of DNV size, elasticity, and surface charge. To determine the ability of DNV-encapsulated drug to be delivered transdermally to a local site, we synthesized, characterized, and tested DNVs carrying the fluorescently labeled hydrophilic bisphosphonate drug AF-647 zoledronate (AF647-Zol). AF647-Zol DNVs were lyophilized, resuspended, and applied topically as a paste to the calvarial skin of mice. High-resolution fluorescent imaging and confocal microscopy revealed significant increase of encapsulated payload delivery to the target tissue—cranial bone—by DNVs as compared to nondeformable nanovesicles (NVs) or aqueous drug solutions. Interestingly, NV delivery was not superior to aqueous drug solution. Our studies show that microfluidic reactor-synthesized DNVs can be produced in good yield, with high encapsulation efficiency, reproducibility, and stability after storage, and represent a useful vehicle for localized transdermal drug delivery.

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This study describes our development of a novel and efficient procedure for C–O bond formation under mild conditions, for coupling heteroaryl chlorides with phenols or primary aliphatic alcohols. We utilized a continuous-flow microfluidic reactor for C–O bond formation in electron-deficient pyrimidines and pyridines in a much more facile manner with a cleaner reaction profile, high yield, quick scalability and without the need for the transition metal catalyst. This approach can be of general utility to make C–O bond containing intermediates of industrial importance in a continuous and safe manner.

Humanin (HN), a 24-amino acid bioactive peptide, has been shown to increase cell survival of neurons after exposure to Aβ and NMDA-induced toxicity and thus could be beneficial in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The neuroprotection by HN is reported to be primarily through its agonist binding properties to the gp130 receptor. However, the peptidic nature of HN presents challenges in its development as a therapeutic for AD. We report here for the first time the elucidation of the binding site of Humanin (HN) peptide to the gp130 receptor extracellular domain through modeling and the synthesis of small molecule mimetics that interact with the HN binding site on the gp130 receptor and provide protection against NMDA-induced neurotoxicity in primary hippocampal neurons. A brain permeable small molecule mimetic was identified through exploratory medicinal chemistry using microfluidic flow chemistry to facilitate the synthesis of new analogues for screening and SAR optimization.